Wish You Were Here
How did a great big bunch of unused postcards from around the world find their way to a South Australian Op Shop? I don’t know, but I reckon it has the makings of a great story or two.
Enter Project: Wish You Were Here
Postcards galore. Who wants one?!
I’m an op shopper from way back, but never have I come across such a curious find as last week in the South Australian Riverland town of Berri.
As usual the shopping venture began with a quick browse of women’s clothing. Admittedly, there were some absolute gems among the size 10s that I would’ve snapped up in a heartbeat six months ago. But with Covid comes kilos—about five of them—and so the size 10s can remain on their racks for now.
The back of Op Shops traditionally houses bric-a-brac items, as was the case with this particular store. It was there that I, a self-confessed lover of stationery, found new rolls of gift wrap, unopened packs of writing paper, and a great big bunch of postcards.
…… Say what?
Singapore. Bali. Edinburgh.
Dublin. Cornwall. Dubai.
London. Bath. Paris. Alaska.
New York. Boston. Portland. Stratford-Upon-Avon and so, so, so many more.
I stood frozen for a moment while my mind drifted, wondering how these unused postcards from yesteryear came to be at an Op Shop 250km north-west of Adelaide. Card after card I shuffled to see photographic memories of cities as far away as Cornwall, Alaska, Cape Town, Virginia, and the list goes on. Something inside me said “buy!”—and I did—without a clue of what I was to do with them.
So here’s my idea….
In this time of no world travel, people going bananas in lock down and some (sadly) feeling alone, I am looking to share these 98 postcards with the world. Ideally, I’d like to return the postcards to their city of origin. So I’m looking to connect with someone from the following cities/countries:
Aberdeen (Scotland), Alaska, Ayutthaya (Thailand), Bali, Bangkok, Bangor (Wales), Bath (England), Boston, Brighton (England), Bristol, Buckinghamshire, Bunratty (Ireland), Cape Town, Copenhagen, Cornwall, Dingle (Ireland), Dubai, Dublin, Edinburgh (Scotland), Florida, New York, Paris, Penang, Port Vila (Vanuatu), Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, Scotland, Skagway (Alaska), Singapore, Spalding (England), Stratford-Upon-Avon, Thailand, Vietnam, Virginia (USA), Wales, Wellington (NZ), Whitby (England), Whitstable, York (England).
Obviously, you’ll need to trust me enough to share your name and postal address but don’t do that in the comments below! Instead, please just write a few words to register your interest and I’ll then be in touch to exchange addresses. I will write you, and if you like you can write me back. Or not. I don’t care. But I’ve gotta get rid of these postcards!
Wish you were here!